McPherson Gets Call

The 49ers hunt for an offensive coordinator gets more intriguing every day. Consider the interview of Broncos tight ends coach Pat McPherson for the quarterbacks position Wednesday, which would seemingly make former Denver offensive coordinator Rick Dennison a continuing person of interest.

Before moving to coach tight ends, McPherson served as quarterbacks coach for four seasons (2003-6) during the Jake Plummer reign. An also-ran with potential with the Cardinals, Plummer became a quarterback in Denver, leading the Broncos to the playoffs, winning more than two-thirds of his games and compiling a quarterback rating of 84.3, better than that of John Elway.

Mike Singletary – mulling his options.

For the last two seasons, McPherson was shifted to tight ends after Mike Shanahan hired hot-shot quarterbacks coach and offensive play caller Jeremy Bates, a move that could have eventually contributed to Shanahan’s dismissal. Yes, Bates led an explosive offense in terms of yardage, but an offense that produced 30 turnovers last year and one that struggled in the red zone.

With McPherson tutoring Plummer and now Texans coach Gary Kubiak calling the plays, the Denver offense kept turnovers to a minimum.

McPherson also has deep ties to the Bay Area and the 49ers. Father Bill McPherson spent 21 years as a linebackers coach and defensive coordinator before moving to the personnel department. He retired in 2005 after over 25 years with the team. Following his playing days at UCLA and Santa Clara, Pat tried out for the team in 1993 as a linebacker, lasted for three exhibition games and then released.

He went back to his alma mater, Bellarmine Prep in San Jose, for four seasons as an English, Algebra and physical fitness instructor, while coaching the school’s linebackers and coordinating the defense. During that time, he also volunteered for a season as a defensive assistant for the 49ers.

If the 49ers were to hire Dennison and McPherson, who would call the plays? Neither Dennison nor McPherson have ever done it. Also it would be a little non-traditional hiring Dennison, a former offensive line coach and running-game creator as your offensive coordinator.

Offensive coordinator’s almost exclusively come from the passing side of the ball, either as quarterbacks or receivers coaches. But with Singletary’s edict of wanting to run, why not have a coordinator from the run side?

Also, if the pair were hired, they’re would be no shortage of smarts on the offense. Dennison has a masters’ in electrical engineering, McPherson majored in English at Santa Clara and then received his MBA at the school while he taught and coached at Bellarmine.

Their hiring would also mark a return home for the west coast terminology and many of its principles. It would also mean the installation of a zone blocking scheme, something the 49ers should do. The scheme is difficult to defend and could be a boon to a talented runner like Frank Gore.